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Birþelio (June) 29, 2008 ReginosPalëpë: 2 dalis (ReginosPalepe: Part 2) Kur buvau dingus? (Where have I been?) Namo praradimo pavojai ið arèiau (Losing your House) Kas yra patriotas? (What is a patriot?) Kaip veikia prezidento rinkimø mechanizmas? (Electing a President)
Liepos (July) 24, 2006 Alimentai vaikø iðlaikymui (Child Support Enforcement) Nëra imigraciniø naujienø (No Action on Immigration) Alimentai vaikui Kalifornijoje (California Child Support) Ar tikrai kitoks? (Marketing Scheme) Nemokama antivirusinë (Free Anti-Virus Software) Foto Konkursas (Photo Contest) Birþelio (June) 21, 2006 Mes keièiame kryptá (Changing Direction) Imigruoti á Kanadà (Immigration to Canada) Kaip atvykti á JAV ir dirbti gydytoju (Coming to the US as a doctor)
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á Japonijà Balandis (Apr) 24, 2006 Paskutinës imigracinës þinios (Immigration Update) Balandis (Apr) 13, 2006 Velykinës mintys (Easter Thoughts) Emigrantø keliu (Emmigrant Road) Balandis (Apr) 10, 2006 Kol kas nëra jokios imigracinës reformos (No Immigration Reform Yet) Patikrinti “Application Status” (Checking Application Status) Moters biologinis laikrodis (Women's Biological Clock)
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Hoffman fotografijos Kaip tinkamai pasirengti emigranto kelionei (Preparing for the Journey of Emmigration) Pramogos, renginiai Èikagoje (Chicago Activities) Kovas (Mar) 30, 2006 Imigraciniai debatai (The Immigration Debate) Kelionë maðina su vaikais ir be jø (Driving Vacations) Kovas (Mar) 23, 2006 Tapimas legaliais (Becoming Legal) Krepðinis ir iðsilavinimas (Basketball and Education) JAV pilietybës egzaminas (US Citizenship Exam) Imigrantø vizos (Immigrant Visas) Lietuviðka garinë pirtis ( Lithuanian steam baths) Kovas (Mar) 16, 2006 Amerikieèiai ir imigrantai (Americans and Immigrants) Tapimas legaliais (Becoming Legal) Skatiname imigracijà? (Encouraging Immigration?) Plaukø ðalinimas lazeriu (Laser Hair Removal) Investuokite Baltijos ðalyse (Invest in the Baltics) Kovas (Mar) 9, 2006 Paukðèiø gripo naujienos (Bird Flu Update) Antibiotikø þala (Antibiotic Abuse) Laiðkai ið Norviliðkiø pilies Lietuvoje (Letter from Norviliskiu Castle) Kaip atsiimti nesumokëtà algà -- 2 (Unpaid Wages -- 2) Imigraciniai klausimai (Immigration Questions) Kur galëèiau rasti kvalifikuotà ðeimos psichologà? (Finding a family therapist) Kovas (Mar) 3, 2006 Mûsø vieni metai (It’s been One Year) Reginos laiðkai (Regina's Letters) Imigruojant á Canada (Immigrate to Canada) Padedate vieni kitiems (Readers Help Readers) Lietuvos kulinarinis paveldas (Lithuania’s Culinary Heritage) Kaip atsiimti nesumokëtà algà (Unpaid Wages Complaint) Vasaris (Feb) 23, 2006 Neramus laikas Buðui (Troubles for Bush) Blynai, blyneliai, sklindþiai (Pancakes, crepes, and scones) Skyrybos ir mokesèiai (2) (Divorce and Taxes) Vasaris (Feb) 16, 2006 Lietuvos nepriklausomybë (Lithuanian Independence) Laiðkai ið Norviliðkiø pilies Lietuvoje (Letters from Norviliskiu Castle) Pasmerkto mirti istorija (Condemned to Die) Skyrybos ir mokesèiai (Divorce and Taxes) Vasaris (Feb) 9, 2006 Bûk Valentinu pati sau (Be your own Valentine) Valentino diena (Valentine's Day) Psichologijos tinklapis - TAU! Krepðinio mokykla (School for Basketball) Emigruoju á Amerikà (Coming to America) Mamø ir tëèiø klubas (Mom and Dad's Club) Skaitytojø kûryba (Reader's Creations) Vasaris (Feb) 2, 2006 Reginos laiðkai (Regina's Letters) Mokslinis màstymas – 1 dalis (Scientific Thinking – Part 1) Muðeikø dovanos (Another Beating, Another Baubel) Pagalba naujagimiui JAV (Public Aid for Baby) Imigracinë viza anûkui (Immigrant Visa for Grandson) Sausis (Jan) 26, 2006 Gydymas ar iliuzija? (Healing or Delusion) Vaizduotës galia (The Power of Imagination) Imigracinës vizos (Immigration Visas) Uþsienis ir dviguba pilietybë (Living Abroad with Dual Citizenship) Sausis (Jan) 19, 2006 Psichinis gydymas (Psychic Healing) Vitaminas D ir vëþinës ligos (Vitamin D and Cancer) Amerikos pilieèiai uþsienyje (American Citizens Abroad) New York’o dirbanèiøjø apsauga (New York Worker’s Rights) Skaitytojø nuomonës (Reader's Opinions) Sausis (Jan) 12, 2006Reginos laiðkai (Regina's Letters) Jûsø kompiuterio saugumas (Security for your Computer) Seksualinis priekabiavimas (Sexual Harassment) Vairavimas Virginia valstijoje (Driving in Virginia) Social Security pinigai (Social Security Benefits) Sausis (Jan) 5, 2006 Reginos laiðkai (Regina's Letters) Þalia arbata ir svorio metimas (Green Tea and Weight Loss) "Uraganiniai" automobiliai (Hurricane Cars) Klausimai ir atsakymai (Questions and Answers) Gruodis (Dec) 15, 2005 Kalëdø kilmë (The Origins of Christmas) Ðventiniai Kalëdø vakarëliai (Christmas Parties) Ar tai mokslas? (Is It Science?) Smurtas namuose (Domestic Violence) Paauglio klausimas (Teenager's Question) Kaip atsiimti pinigus (How to get Money Back) Suþalojimai darbe (On the Job Injury) Dþiazas Lietuvoje (Jazz in Lithuania) Geri dalykai Lietuvoje (Positive Things in Lithuania) Ðventøjø kûèiø ir kalëdø puota Gruodis (Dec) 7, 2005
Paukðèiø
gripo baimë Senoviniai klaipëdietiðki patiekalai (Ancient Lithuanian Dishes) Vertingas projektas (Important Project) Þiema Èikagoje (Winter in Chicago) 2006 Naujø Metø sutiktuvës ir renginiai kitose valstijose (New Years 2006) Lapkritis (Nov) 22, 2005
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apie iðsilavinimà Eks- gubernatoriaus teismas (The Ryan Trial) Poet and Musician (Poetas ir Muzikantas) Lapkritis (Nov) 17, 2005 Padëkos pietø receptai (Recipes for Thanksgiving) “Lietuvos kulinarijos enciklopedija” (Encyclopedia of Lithuanian Cuisine) Lietuvos kulinarinës tradicijos (Lithuania's Culinary Tradition) Viskas apie kalakutà (All About Turkey) Lapkritis (Nov) 10, 2005
Kà
reiðkia Padëkos ðventë Pasirengimas Padëkos Dienos pietums (Pot Luck Thanksgiving)
Thanksgiving
ðventės atsiradimo istorija Baltøjø rûmø rûpesèiai (White House Troubles) Spaudos laisvë (Freedom of the Press) Skaitytojø laiðkai Tinai (Reader's Letters to Tina) Þalios kortelës loterija (Green Card Lottery) Klausimas apie Þalios Kortelës loterijà (Question about Green Card Lottery) Kaip jauèiasi gráþæ gyventi á Lietuvà? (2) (Back Home in Lithuania) Invalidas Lietuvoje ðiandien (An Invalid in Lithuania Today)
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Lithuanian Independence
February 16 marks the 88th anniversary of the 1918 restoration of Lithuanian Independence. This period of self-rule was short, only 21 years, and filled with turmoil. Poland claimed Vilnius as its territory and occupied it. Kaunas became the Lithuanian capitol. The Vatican recognized the Polish claim and as a result the Lithuanian Catholic church broke off relations with Rome. This short period ended in 1939. In March of that year, Germany demanded that Lithuania give up the seaport city of Klaipeda. Lithuania had no choice but to agree. In August of the same year, Hitler and Stalin met to divide Europe between them. The Baltics were placed in the Soviet section and the Russian army moved in.
Lietuvos nepriklausomybë
Len Nuttall Vasario 16- oji þenklina 88- àsias 1918 metais atkurtos Lietuvos nepriklausomybës metines. Ðis savivaldos laikotarpis buvo trumpas, tik 21 metai, ir jis buvo persunktas neramumø. Lenkija pretendavo á Vilniaus teritorijà, kaip jai priklausanèià ir jà uþgrobë. Lietuvos sostine tapo Kaunas. Vatikanas pripaþino Lenkijos pretenzijas esant teisëtomis ir dël to Lietuvos katalikø baþnyèia nutraukë visus ryðius su Roma. Ðis trumpas laikotarpis baigësi 1939 m. Tø metø kovo mënesá Vokietija pareikalavo, kad Lietuva atiduotø Klaipëdos uostà. Lietuva neturëjo kitos iðeities, vien sutikti. Tø paèiø metø rugpjûèio mënesá, ávyko Hitlerio ir Stalino susitikimas, kurio tikslas buvo pasidalinti Europà. Baltijos ðalys buvo priskirtos (atiduotos dalybø metu) Sovietø sektoriui ir á jas áþengë Rusijos armija, pradëjusi ið jø á Sibirà deportuoti ðimtus tûkstanèiø þmoniø. 1941 metais okupavo naciai. 1944 metais sugráþo rusai ir pasiliko beveik pusei amþiaus. Daugiau negu pusë milijono lietuviø buvo iðsiøsti á Sibirà, iðtremti arba nuþudyti. Deðimtmeèiais lietuviai svajojo gyventi nepriklausomoje ðalyje. Pagaliau 1990- aisiais Lietuva paskelbë nepriklausomybæ, o 1991 metais nepriklausomybë buvo oficialiai átvirtinta. Jums tie ávykiai tikriausiai gerai þinomi, bet að juos vardiju, kad tinkamiau galëèiau iðreikðti vienà mintá. Jeigu reiktø pasakyti koks Lietuvos istorijos esminis dvideðimtojo amþiaus momentas, tai- kova uþ nepriklausomybæ. Netgi tuo trumpu laisvës laikotarpiu ðaliai rûpëjo rasti bûdus kaip saugiai gyventi galingø kaimynø pasienyje. Nedaug teliko laiko ðalies kûrimui ir valdymui, vystymui. Ankstyvos 1990- øjø dienos ta prasme nedaug kuo skyrësi. Þmones buvo uþvaldþiusi nepriklausomybës euforija ir niekas neturëjo pakankamai laiko ir energijos apmàstyti jos prasmei. Jie buvo itin uþsiëmæ, mëgindami tiesiog iðgyventi. Sunkus darbas ir ávairiø patogumø, normaliø gyvenimo sàlygø atsisakymas atrodë to vertas, nes ðalis buvo laisva. Dalykai dabar po truputá keièiasi. Stiprus, aðtrus nepriklausomybës pojûtis, lyg pirmas ðvieþaus oro gurkðnis, atidarius langà pavasará, tampa kasdieniðkai áprastu. Þmonës priima tai kaip savaime suprantamà. Daugiau dëmesio jie skiria kasdieniams savo gyvenimo uþsiëmimams. Tai sveikas poþiûris; þenklas, liudijantis, jog nepriklausomybë tapo normalaus gyvenimo dalimi. Tuo paèiu tai pavojingas laikotarpis, nes atrodo, þmonës linkæ manyti, kad vyriausybë tapo jø nebekontroliuojama. Tûkstanèiai nepriklausomybës judëjimø yra vykæ paskutiniø keliø amþiø bëgyje, ðimtai revoliucijø, kuriø nemaþa dalis baigësi sëkmingu nepriklausomø valstybiø ákûrimu. Skaitant tokiø ðaliø istorijà, darosi aiðku, kad yra didþiulis skirtumas tarp nepriklausomybës paskelbimo ir tarp tapimo funkcionuojanèia ðalimi. Revoliucionieriai beveik niekad netampa gerais visuomenës tarnais. Jø tikslas yra daugiau griauti senàjà santvarkà, negu jos vietoje kurti naujà. Gyvybinës visuomenës funkcijos, tokios kaip keliø taisymas ar ðiukðliø iðveþimas gali pasirodyti siaubingai nuobodþiomis, lyginant su mûðiais barikadose ir ëjimu prieð tankus. Iðkilmës ir ðalies valdymo svaigulys visada yra labiau jaudinantys uþ didybæ á miltus malantá kasdiená, pilkà ûkininkavimà. Labai gerai þinoma, kad galia korumpuoja. Sàþiningà, geriausiø keitinimø kupinà þmogø, atsidûrusá galios suteikianèiame poste, apima troðkimas ja pasinaudoti. Anksèiau ar vëliau daugelis ið jø, jeigu ne dauguma, pasiduos tam troðkimui. Paprastai ið pradþiø susiviliojama maþomis, vëliau didesnëmis, kol galiausiai ta galia imama naudotis savo asmeninëms reikmëms. Taip po kurio laiko tas pirminis tikslas tarnauti iðrinkusiems þmonëms nutolsta ir pasidaro sunkiai beáþiûrimas. Visoms ðalims bûdinga ta pati problema. Kyla didþiulis skandalas Amerikoje, pradëjus aiðkëti ir pateikus kaltinimus Amerikos vyriausybës, ávairiems kongreso nariams uþ tai, kad susigundë ir priëmë neteisëtus pinigus. Kitas- dël to, kad JAV vyriausybë klausësi savo pilieèiø pokalbiø, jø neperspëjusi. Kanadoje tik kà pasibaigusiø rinkimø metu Paul Martin vyriausybë uþ palyginti smulkius finansinius prasiþengimus buvo nuðalinta, neþiûrint to, kad dar prieð kelis metus ðis politikas buvo ypaè populiarus. Kiekviena vyriausybë pasaulyje tam tikrame lygmenyje yra nekompetetinga ir korumpuota, taèiau jeigu ðalis ið tiesø yra laisva, tai privalo parodyti, jog tokiø dalykø netoleruoja. Aukðèiausi visuomenës pareigûnai privalo prisiimti atsakomybæ uþ tai, kas vyksta þemesniuose sluoksniuose. Gyvuoja toks posakis: “Þmonës gauna tokià vyriausybæ, kokios yra nusipelnæ”. Að bûèiau linkæs tai pasakyti kiek kitaip: “Þmonës gauna vyriausybæ, kokios reikalauja”. Thomas Jefferson, kuris paraðë Amerikos nepriklausomybës deklaracijà (American Declaration of Independence) ir kuris buvo treèiuoju Amerikos prezidentu, raðë: “Laisvës medis laiks nuo laiko turi bûti atnaujinamas patriotø ir tironø krauju.” Jis sako, kad tam tikru metu þmonës turi itin garsiai ir aiðkiai savo vyriausybei praneðti, kad laikas kai kà keisti. Demokratinëje visuomenëje mums nereikia lieti kraujo, verèiant vyriausybæ, bet mes privalome ið oficialiø vyriausybës atstovø reikalauti atsakomybës uþ darbus, kuriems dirbti jie yra iðrinkti. Jeigu jie netinkamai tarnauja, balsuokite, kad bûtø paðalinti ið tos ástaigos. Jeigu jie praturtëja mokesèiø mokëtojø sàskaita, tai atsikratykite jais ir suraskite tokiø, kurie geriau dirbtø tà patá darbà. Në viena ðalis nëra ið tikrøjø laisva tol, kol jos pilieèiai supranta, kad bûtent jie yra tikrieji ir galutiniai ðalies valdytojai. Esant demokratijai, bet kokio lygio vadovai, pradedant nuo maþiausiø ástaigø vietos kaimeliuose ir baigiant didþiausiomis nacionalinëje vyriausybëje, yra ádarbinti þmoniø dirbti jiems patikëtà darbà. Jeigu jie dirba nesàþiningai ir nekompetetingai, tai tie patys þmonës, kurie juos ádarbino, juos ir atleidþia, paðalina. Në viena ðalis nëra ið tikrøjø laisva, jeigu jos þmonës nesupranta, kad tai yra jø ðalis ir kad jie yra uþ jà atsakingi. Kurios nors ðalies pilieèiai, atsisakantys tai pripaþinti ir suprasti, neturëtø stebëtis, vienà dienà prabudæ ir pamatæ, kad laisvë jø ðalyje nebeegzistuoja. Lithuanian Independence
February 16 marks the 88th anniversary of the 1918 restoration of Lithuanian Independence. This period of self-rule was short, only 21 years, and filled with turmoil. Poland claimed Vilnius as its territory and occupied it. Kaunas became the Lithuanian capitol. The Vatican recognized the Polish claim and as a result the Lithuanian Catholic church broke off relations with Rome. This short period ended in 1939. In March of that year, Germany demanded that Lithuania give up the seaport city of Klaipeda. Lithuania had no choice but to agree. In August of the same year, Hitler and Stalin met to divide Europe between them. The Baltics were placed in the Soviet section and the Russian army moved in. They started deporting hundreds of thousands of people to Siberia. In 1941, the Nazis invaded. In 1944 the Russians came back to stay for almost half a century. Half a million more Lithuanians were sent to Siberia, exiled or killed. For decades Lithuanians dreamed of having an independent country. Finally in 1990 Lithuania declared independence and in 1991 that independence was made official. You are probably familiar with these events, but I am listing them here to make a point. If you have to say what the focus was of Lithuanian history in the twentieth century, it was the struggle for independence. Even during the brief period of freedom in the twenties and thirties, the country was preoccupied with finding some way to keep its powerful neighbors on the other side of the border. There was very little time for finding ways to build and run a country. The early days of the 1990’s were not much different. People were euphoric over the idea of independence, but didn’t have much time or energy to ponder its meaning. They were too busy just trying to survive. But the hard work and deprivation was all worth it because the country was free. Things are changing a little bit now. The sharp poignancy of independence, like that first blast of fresh air when you open the windows in the spring, has become familiar. People take it somewhat for granted. They pay more attention to the everyday business of their lives. There is nothing wrong with that. In a way, it’s a healthy thing, a sign that independence has become accepted as a normal part of life. But this is also a dangerous time because people today seem to think their government is beyond their control. There have been thousands of independence movements over the last few centuries, and hundreds of revolutions, many of these successfully creating independent states. In reading the history of these countries, it becomes clear that there is a very big difference between declaring independence and becoming a functioning country. Revolutionaries almost never make very good public servants. Their goal is to tear down the old order, not so much to build the new one. Vital public functions like repairing roads and collecting garbage can seem awfully boring compared to standing at the barricades and facing down tanks. The pomp and circumstance of ruling a country are always more exciting than the grinding details of governing one. It is well known that power corrupts. An honest, well-meaning person put into a position of power faces constant temptations to abuse that power. Sooner or later, many if not most, give in. Usually in small ways at first, later in larger and larger ones, he takes advantage of his power for his own gain. After a while the original goal of serving the people who elected him is far in the background. All countries have this problem. There is a potentially huge scandal starting to come to light in the American government, with various members of congress accused of accepting illicit payments. There is another about the US government eavesdropping on US citizens without a warrant. Canada has just finished an election where they threw out the government of Paul Martin, an extremely popular figure only a few years ago, because of a relatively small financial scandal in his administration. Every government in the world has some degree of corruption and incompetence, but if a country is to stay free, it must refuse to tolerate it. Public officials at the highest levels must be held responsible for what happens below them. There is a saying, “people get the government they deserve”. I prefer to say it a little differently, “people get the government they demand”. Thomas Jefferson, who wrote the American Declaration of Independence and was the third US president, wrote “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.” He is saying that there are times when the people must tell its government loudly and clearly that things have to change. In a democratic society, we do not need to throw down governments by blood and force of arms, but we do need to hold our government officials responsible for doing the jobs they were elected to do. If they are not serving the public good, vote them out of office. If they are becoming rich at the taxpayers expense, get rid of them and find somebody who will do the job better. No country is ever really free until its citizens understand that they are their country’s final authority. In a democracy, leaders at any level, from the smallest official at the local village to the highest level of the national government, are hired by the people to do a job. If they do not do it honestly and competently, the people who hired them can also fire them. No country is ever really free until its citizens understand that is their country and their responsibility. If the citizens of any country fail to understand and accept this responsibility, they cannot be surprised when one day they wake up and find that their freedom is gone.
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